Here’s the hard truth:
Before you ever open your Bible on Sunday, people are already sizing you up.
They may not say it, but their eyebrows just did.
We’d love to think folks judge purely by the heart.
But Scripture already told us—man looks at the outward appearance.
And man hasn’t changed.
So if you look sloppy, tired, or out of shape, your words have to climb uphill.
If you look sharp, healthy, and strong?
They land deeper than a presidential speech in front of Mt. Rushmore.
The Research Doesn’t Lie
Confidence skyrockets when you move your body.
Regular training improves self-esteem and body image across every age group.
One study: a 12-week exercise plan took sedentary adults from “meh” to “I actually like how I look.” That kind of confidence is contagious.
The market rewards the look.
An INFORMS study tracked 43,000+ MBA grads over 15 years.
The "attractive" ones made ~2.4% more every year and were 52% more likely to land prestige roles. Translation: better looking = better bookings.
CEOs who run marathons grow firm value.
Fitness builds stress tolerance and executive function.
If it works for billion-dollar companies, it works for your ministry too.
Pastors are role models whether they like it or not.
Congregations engage more when their pastor looks like he’s practicing what he preaches. (Study)
Overweight clergy undercut their own credibility.
Harsh? Yes.
True? Also yes.
Why It Matters for Ministry
Several things...
- People listen with more receptivity when the guy teaching them Truth looks like discipline matters to him.
- A fit, energetic presence communicates hope.
- Your example either removes excuses or reinforces them.
And this goes beyond Sunday preaching.
The way you carry yourself shapes board meetings, staff direction, counseling conversations, and community influence.
Authority isn’t just in your voice. It’s in your posture, your clothes, and the way you lead in every setting, from pulpit to planning table.
The Look Leverage Plan (3 Steps)
1. Uniform your wardrobe.
Pick a “pastor-athlete” look:
Fitted solid shirt, dark jeans or chinos, clean shoes, a sharp jacket.
Rule of thumb: if your shirt buttons are gasping for air, it’s not a spiritual attack—it’s the wrong size.
2. Make your fitness visible.
Three strength sessions a week.
Thirty-minute walks on off days.
Invite a couple of guys to train with you for a month.
(Don’t brag... just normalize it. Bench press once in front of a deacon and it’ll be in the newsletter by Wednesday.)
3. Master presence.
Stand tall.
Shoulders back.
Chin level.
Diaphragm breathing before you speak.
Clean grooming.
These tweaks are free, instant upgrades to authority signals.
Quick Self-Check
- Can your shirt stay tucked when both arms go overhead?
- Do your shoes look new from six feet away? If your shoes look like they’ve survived Noah’s flood, buy new ones.
- Can you stand and hold eye contact for ten seconds without shifting?
- Are you actually logging 3 lift days and 3 walk days each week?
If not, time to tighten up.
What Happens in 90 Days
- More energy on Sundays and midweek meetings.
- Congregants interrupt you less because your presence commands attention.
- People start sentences with “You look…” followed by “strong,” “healthy,” or “rested.” That’s social proof your influence just leveled up.
Pushback (and the Truth)
“Isn’t this superficial?”
Nope. It’s stewardship.
You don’t preach the body. You steward it so the message lands and the influence happens more often.
“I don’t have time.”
Neither do CEOs. They still run marathons.
A 3-hour-per-week plan pays back in energy and authority.
If you had time to scroll Facebook for 30 minutes yesterday, you had time for sit ups.
“I’m too old for this.”
Wrong. Studies show strength training is one of the best ways to slow aging.
Gray hair plus good posture looks like wisdom, not weariness.
“It’s not spiritual.”
Actually, it is. Stewardship includes your body.
When your energy and presence multiply, so does your ministry impact.
Look...
My itinerant preaching ministry puts me in a different ministry setting every single week.
I constantly get comments about looking fit.
Instead of fueling my ego, I connect the comments mentally back to everything I've said it this article.
This is an influence multiplier for ministry.
Yes, I pray.
Yes, I trust God.
Yes, I preach and teach the infallible Word of God.
But knowing that physical vehicle of my ministry is enhancing, not subtracting is a big deal for me.
And if you haven't yet, you can experience the same.
Bottom Line
Looking sharp isn’t vanity.
It’s strategy.
When your people see discipline in your body, order in your wardrobe, and strength in your posture, they’re more likely to trust the discipline, order, and strength of your words.
You don’t need Hollywood abs.
You just need to steward the body you’ve got so the Gospel doesn’t have to fight through the distractions.
More Resources To Help You Optimize
🥤Momentum Shake: The Complete Longevity Shake for Optimal Health
🎥 Sermon Shots: Repurpose Sermons Into Clips & Other Engaging Content in Minutes
💊 My (Scott's) full supplement regimen